
Show Notes
What if failing publicly is the single fastest way to build the exact life you want?
Today, I am sitting down with 18-year-old entrepreneur and podcaster Kaia Tham. We are breaking down why getting comfortable with rejection early in life completely removes fear, how to build a massive personal brand on LinkedIn without being fake, and why you never need anyone’s permission to start.
What you will learn in this episode: Why constantly seeing "no" in your inbox builds unshakeable resilience. The "Embarrassment Tax”; why cringey beginnings are mandatory tuition for success. How Kaia landed dream podcast guests using creative, human cold DMs. The "Jar Analogy" for organizing daily priorities without burning out.
Kaia Tham is an 18-year-old Australian entrepreneur, content creator, and host of The SEEN Podcast, currently based in Lisbon, Portugal. She highlights the raw, unfiltered stories of founders and builders. Connect with Kaia on LinkedIn and listen to The SEEN Podcast across all major platforms.
In this episode 00:00 - Welcome 03:00 - Kaia Tham: From Australia to Lisbon 04:15 - Writing a 400-Page Book at 12 & Facing Rejection 06:40 - The Origin & Vision of The SEEN Podcast 09:50 - How She Landed Dan Porter with a 6'7 Joke 12:15 - Common Threads in World-Class Founders 16:00 - Building a LinkedIn Brand: Overcoming Cringe 20:45 - The "Embarrassment Tax" & Authentic Storytelling 26:10 - The Jar Analogy: Prioritizing Rocks Over Sand 30:00 - Why You Don't Need Permission to Start
More from The SMARTA Podcast
What if waiting for permission is the exact thing keeping you from the life you actually want? Today, I am sitting down with the incredibly disciplined 20-year-old entrepreneur and copywriter, Jay Yang. At just 16, Jay realized that following the traditional path was leading him toward a life he did not want. He stopped waiting for permission and started taking action. We talk about how his permissionless mindset helped him land opportunities with massive entrepreneurs like Noah Kagan, Alex Hormozi, and Tyler Denk before he even finished high school.
What if the four massive crises facing humanity right now are actually your greatest opportunity to completely reinvent your future, and you have way less time than you think to act?
What if the most prestigious college degree in the world is actually a quarter-million-dollar trap holding you back?
What if everything you have been taught about finding the "perfect" career path is not entirely true?
What if you could spend every vacation in a castle, living like some of the greatest royalty members for your next holiday?